Lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B

ABSTRACT

A baby-leaf, red romaine lettuce cultivar designated 40-0203103-B, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B, to the plants of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar 40-0203103-B with itself or another lettuce line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other lettuce lines derived from the cultivar 40-0203103-B.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive baby-leaf, red Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) variety designated 40-0203103-B. There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasm that possess the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety or hybrid an improved combination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits may include increased head size and weight, higher seed yield, improved color, resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to drought and heat, and better agronomic quality.

Practically speaking, all cultivated forms of lettuce belong to the highly polymorphic species Lactuca sativa that is grown for its edible head and leaves. As a crop, lettuces are grown commercially wherever environmental conditions permit the production of an economically viable yield. Lettuce is the world's most popular salad. In the United States, the principal growing regions are California and Arizona which produce approximately 287,000 acres out of a total annual acreage of more than 300,000 acres (USDA, 2001). Fresh lettuces are available in the United States year-round although the greatest supply is from May through October. For planting purposes, the lettuce season is typically divided into three categories, early, mid and late, with the coastal areas planting from January to August, and the desert regions from August to December. Fresh lettuces are consumed nearly exclusively as fresh, raw product, occasionally as a cooked vegetable.

Lactuca sativa is in the Cichoreae tribe of the Asteraceae (Compositae family). Lettuce is related to chicory, sunflower, aster, dandelion, artichoke and chrysanthemum. Sativa is one of about 300 species in the genus Lactuca. There are seven different morphological types of lettuces: the Crisphead group includes the iceberg and batavian types. Iceberg lettuce has a large, firm head with a crisp texture and a white or creamy yellow interior. The Batavian lettuce predates the iceberg type and has a smaller and less firm head. The Butterhead group has a small, soft head with an almost oily texture. The Romaine, also known as cos lettuce, has elongated upright leaves forming a loose, loaf shaped head. The outer leaves are usually dark green. The Leaf lettuces come in many varieties, none of which form a head. The next three types are seldom seen in the United States: Latin lettuce looks like a cross between romaine and butterhead; stem lettuce has long, narrow leaves and thick, edible stems. Oilseed lettuce is a type grown for its large seeds that are pressed to obtain oil.

Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plant reproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and the type of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F1 hybrid cultivar, pureline cultivar, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superior individual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective, whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based on mean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of related plants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection, modified pedigree selection, mass selection, and recurrent selection.

The complexity of inheritance influences choice of breeding method. Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes for a highly heritable trait into a desirable cultivar. This approach has been used extensively for breeding disease-resistant cultivars. Various recurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitatively inherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrent selection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination, the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and the number of hybrid offspring from each successful cross

Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation of the efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria vary depending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain from selection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard, overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successful cultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollar expended, etc.). Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared to appropriate standards in environments representative of the commercial target area(s) for three years at least. The best lines are candidates for new commercial cultivars; those still deficient in a few traits are used as parents to produce new populations for further selection. These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing and distribution, usually take from eight to 12 years from the time the first cross is made. Therefore, development of new cultivars is a time-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficient use of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction.

A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that are genetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic value is masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors. One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performance relative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standard cultivar. If a single observation is inconclusive, replicated observations provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.

The goal of lettuce plant breeding is to develop new, unique and superior lettuce cultivars. The breeder initially selects and crosses two or more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing and selection, producing many new genetic combinations. The breeder can theoretically generate billions of different genetic combinations via crossing, selfing and mutations. The breeder has no direct control at the cellular level. Therefore, two breeders will never develop the same line, or even very similar lines, having the same lettuce traits.

Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to the next generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and different geographical, climatic and soil conditions and further selections are then made, during and at the end of the growing season. The cultivars that are developed are unpredictable is because the breeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no control at the DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures), and with millions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resulting lines he develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion. The same breeder cannot produce the same line twice by using the exact same original parents and the same selection techniques. This unpredictability results in the expenditure of large research monies to develop superior lettuce cultivars.

The development of commercial lettuce cultivars requires the development of lettuce varieties, the crossing of these varieties, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop cultivars from breeding populations. Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or more varieties or various broad-based sources into breeding pools from which cultivars are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new cultivars are crossed with other varieties and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which have commercial potential.

Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement of self-pollinating crops or inbred lines of cross-pollinating crops. Two parents which possess favorable, complementary traits are crossed to produce an F₁. An F₂ population is produced by selfing one or several F₁s or by intercrossing two F₁s (sib mating). Selection of the best individuals is usually begun in the F₂ population; then, beginning in the F₃, the best individuals in the best families are selected. Replicated testing of families, or hybrid combinations involving individuals of these families, often follows in the F4 generation to improve the effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability. At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F₆ and F₇), the best lines or mixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potential release as new cultivars.

Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations of either self- or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variable population of heterozygous individuals is either identified or created by intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selected based on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellent combining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a new population in which further cycles of selection are continued.

Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simply inherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous cultivar or line that is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait to be transferred is called the donor parent. After the initial cross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parent are selected and repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent.

The single-seed descent procedure in the strict sense refers to planting a segregating population, harvesting a sample of one seed per plant, and using the one-seed sample to plant the next generation. When the population has been advanced from the F₂ to the desired level of inbreeding, the plants from which lines are derived will each trace to different F₂ individuals. The number of plants in a population declines each generation due to failure of some seeds to germinate or some plants to produce at least one seed. As a result, not all of the F₂ plants originally sampled in the population, will be represented by a progeny when generation advance is completed

Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several reference books (e.g., “Principles of Plant Breeding” John Wiley and Son, pp.115-161, 1960; Allard, 1960; Simmonds, 1979; Sneep et al., 1979; Fehr, 1987).

Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level of superiority or improvement over current cultivars. In addition to showing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new cultivar that is compatible with industry standards or which creates a new market. The introduction of a new cultivar will incur additional costs to the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer for special advertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial production practices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release of a new cultivar should take into consideration research and development costs as well as technical superiority of the final cultivar. For seed-propagated cultivars, it must be feasible to produce seed easily and economically.

Lettuce in general and romaine lettuce in particular is an important and valuable vegetable crop. Thus, a continuing goal of lettuce plant breeders is to develop stable, high yielding lettuce cultivars that are agronomically sound. To accomplish this goal, the lettuce breeder must select and develop lettuce plants with traits that result in superior cultivars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel baby-leaf, red romaine lettuce cultivar designated 40-0203103-B. This invention thus relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B, to the plants of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B and to methods for producing a lettuce plant produced by crossing the lettuce 40-0203103-B with itself or another lettuce line, and to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars derived from lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B and to the lettuce cultivar derived by the use of those methods. This invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds and plants produced by crossing the line 40-0203103-B with another lettuce line.

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells for use in tissue culture of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of regenerating plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of the foregoing lettuce plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as the foregoing lettuce plant. Preferably, the regenerable cells in such tissue cultures will be embryos, protoplasts, seeds, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, and meristematic cells. Still further, the present invention provides lettuce plants regenerated from the tissue cultures of the invention.

Another objective of the invention is to provide methods for producing other lettuce plants derived from lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B. Lettuce cultivars derived by the use of those methods are also part of the invention.

The invention also relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plant produced by that method.

In another aspect, the present invention provides for single gene converted plants of 40-0203103-B. The single transferred gene may preferably be a dominant or recessive allele. Preferably, the single transferred gene will confer such traits as male sterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality and industrial usage. The single gene may be a naturally occurring lettuce gene or a transgene introduced through genetic engineering techniques.

The invention further provides methods for developing lettuce plants in a lettuce plant breeding program using plant breeding techniques including recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection and transformation. Seeds, lettuce plants, and parts thereof produced by such breeding methods are also part of the invention.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and tables which follow, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided:

-   -   Allele. The allele is any of one or more alternative form of a         gene, all of which alleles relate to one trait or         characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles         of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of         homologous chromosomes.     -   Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder         repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents,         for example, a first generation hybrid F₁ with one of the         parental genotype of the F₁ hybrid.     -   Essentially all the physiological and morphological         characteristics. A plant having essentially all the         physiological and morphological characteristics means a plant         having the physiological and morphological characteristics,         except for the characteristics derived from the converted gene.     -   Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant         from tissue culture.     -   Single gene converted. Single gene converted or conversion plant         refers to plants which are developed by a plant breeding         technique called backcrossing wherein essentially all of the         desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a         line are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred         into the line via the backcrossing technique or via genetic         engineering.     -   Maturity Date. Maturity refers to the stage when the plants are         of full size or optimum weight, in marketable form or shape to         be of commercial or economic value. In romaine types they range         from 50-75 days from time of seeding, depending upon the season         of the year.     -   RHS. RHS refers to the Royal Horticultural Society of England         which publishes an official botanical color chart quantitatively         identifying colors according to a defined numbering system, The         chart may be purchased from Royal Horticulture Society         Enterprise Ltd RHS Garden; Wisley, Woking; Surrey GU236QB, UK.     -   Lettuce Yield (Tons/Acre). The yield in tons/acre is the actual         yield of the lettuce at harvest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B was produced from selections of the lollo rossa plant type. All selections were chosen for their intense, red color which extended to the base of the plant. In the F₅ generation, a single non-lollo rossa offtype, with intense red color, was identified. It differed from a lollo rossa plant type by having a more open, romaine-like growth habit. The F₆ generation produced plants with intense red color and a romaine-like growth habit, although the uniformity was not sufficient to designate it as a variety. The F₇ generation showed stability for the desired plant type and color. This stability was also observed in the F₈ generation, at which time (April 2002) all of the plants were moved into the greenhouse for increase. The seed from this increase was harvested in August of 2002 and subsequent trials confirmed the characteristics were stable and reproducible.

The cultivar 40-0203103-B is most similar to ‘Eruption’ cultivar but differs in that 40-0203103-B is much redder than ‘Eruption’ (RHS 200A vs. RHS 200B, respectively). 40-0203103-B has an open head whereas ‘Eruption’ has a semi-closed head. 40-0203103-B also has faster bolting under hot conditions (68 days vs. 75 days, respectively).

Some of the criteria used for selection in various generations include: color, disease resistance, head weight, number of leaves, appearance and length, yield, emergence, maturity, plant architecture, seed yield and quality.

The cultivar has shown uniformity and stability for the traits, within the limits of environmental influence for the traits. It has been self-pollinated a sufficient number of generations with careful attention to uniformity of plant type. The line has been increased with continued observation for uniformity. No variant traits have been observed or are expected in 40-0203103-B.

Lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B has the following morphologic and other characteristics (based primarily on data collected at Gilroy, Calif.). TABLE 1 VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION PLANT TYPE: Romaine SEED: Color: Black Light dormancy: Light not required Heat dormancy: Not susceptible COTYLEDON TO FOURTH LEAF STAGE: Shape of cotyledons: Broad Apical margin: Moderately dentate Basal margin: Moderately dentate Undulation: Medium Green color: Light green Anthocyanin distribution: Throughout Anthocyanin concentration: Intense, RHS 200A Rolling: Present Cupping: Slight Reflexing: None MATURE LEAVES: Margin:  Incision depth: Moderate  Indentation: Shallowly dentate  Undulation of the apical margin: Strong Green color: Light Green, RHS 143B Anthocyanin Distribution: Throughout Anthocyanin Concentration: Intense, RHS 200A Size: Medium Glossiness: Glossy Blistering: Moderate Trichomes: Present Leaf thickness: Thin PLANT (AT MARKET STAGE): Spread of frame leaves: 32 cm Head shape: Non-heading Head size class: Medium Head weight: 135 g Head firmness: Loose BUTT: Shape: Rounded Midrib: Prominently raised CORE: Diameter at base of head: 20 mm Core height from base of head to apex: 45 mm BOLTING: Days to seed stalk emergence: 68 Bolting class: Medium Height of mature seed stalk: 110 cm Spread of bolter plant: 32 cm Bolter leaves: Curved Bolter leaf margin: Dentate Bolter leaf color: Dark red, RHS 200A DISEASE RESISTANCE: Downy Mildew (Bremia lactucae): Resistant to California isolates CA I, IIA, IIB, III, IV, VA, VB, and VI, as well as European isolates BL1-16, 19, 21 and 23.

FURTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a lettuce cultivar plant by crossing a first parent lettuce plant with a second parent lettuce plant wherein either the first or second parent lettuce plant is a lettuce plant of the line 40-0203103-B. Further, both first and second parent lettuce plants can come from the cultivar 40-0203103-B. Still further, this invention also is directed to methods for producing a cultivar 40-0203103-B -derived lettuce plant by crossing cultivar 40-0203103-B with a second lettuce plant and growing the progeny seed, and repeating the crossing and growing steps with the cultivar 40-0203103-B -derived plant from 0 to 7 times. Thus, any such methods using the cultivar 40-0203103-B are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like. All plants produced using cultivar 40-0203103-B as a parent are within the scope of this invention, including plants derived from cultivar 40-0203103-B. Advantageously, the cultivar is used in crosses with other, different, cultivars to produce first generation (F₁) lettuce seeds and plants with superior characteristics.

As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which lettuce plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, seeds, roots, anthers, and the like.

As is well known in the art, tissue culture of lettuce can be used for the in vitro regeneration of a lettuce plant. Tissue culture of various tissues of lettuces and regeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published. For example, reference may be had to Teng et al., HortScience. 1992, 27: 9,1030-1032 Teng et al., HortScience. 1993, 28: 6, 669-1671, Zhang et al., Journal of Genetics and Breeding. 1992, 46: 3, 287-290, Webb et al., Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 1994, 38: 1, 77-79, Curtis et al., Journal of Experimental Botany. 1994, 45: 279,1441-1449, Nagata et al., Journal for the American Society for Horticultural Science. 2000,125: 6, 669-672. It is clear from the literature that the state of the art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are “conventional” in the sense that they are routinely used and have a very high rate of success. Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce lettuce plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of variety 40-0203103-B.

With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have allowed the isolation and characterization of genes that encode specific protein products, scientists in the field of plant biology developed a strong interest in engineering the genomes of plants to contain and express foreign genes, or additional, or modified versions of native, or endogenous, genes (perhaps driven by different promoters) in order to alter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Such foreign additional and/or modified genes are referred to herein collectively as “transgenes”. Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods for producing transgenic plants have been developed, and the present invention in particular embodiments also relates to transformed versions of the claimed line.

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vector that will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNA comprising a gene under control of, or operatively linked to, a regulatory element (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain one or more such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. The vector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used alone or in combination with other plasmids, to provide transformed lettuce plants, using transformation methods as described below to incorporate transgenes into the genetic material of the lettuce plant(s).

Expression Vectors for Lettuce Transformation

Marker Genes—Expression vectors include at least one genetic marker, operably linked to a regulatory element (a promoter, for example) that allows transformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered by negative selection, i.e., inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain the selectable marker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screening for the product encoded by the genetic marker. Many commonly used selectable marker genes for plant transformation are well known in the transformation arts, and include, for example, genes that code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be an antibiotic or an herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target which is insensitive to the inhibitor. A few positive selection methods are also known in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is the neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene, isolated from transposon Tn5, which when placed under the control of plant regulatory signals confers resistance to kanamycin. Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80:4803 (1983). Another commonly used selectable marker gene is the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene which confers resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin. Vanden Elzen et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 5:299 (1985).

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that confer resistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase, streptomycin phosphotransferase and aminoglycoside-3′-adenyl transferase, the bleomycin resistance determinant. Hayford et al., Plant Physiol. 86:1216 (1988), Jones et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 210:86 (1987), Svab et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14:197 (1990) Hille et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 7:171 (1986). Other selectable marker genes confer resistance to herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate or broxynil. Comai et al., Nature 317:741-744 (1985), Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell 2:603-618 (1990) and Stalker et al., Science 242:419-423 (1988).

Selectable marker genes for plant transformation that are not of bacterial origin include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and plant acetolactate synthase. Eichholtz et al., Somatic Cell Mol. Genet. 13:67 (1987), Shah et al., Science 233:478 (1986), Charest et al., Plant Cell Rep. 8:643 (1990).

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation requires screening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather than direct genetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxic substance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful to quantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene in specific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genes because they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for the investigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screening presumptively transformed cells include β-glucuronidase (GUS), α-0 -galactosidase, luciferase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. Jefferson, R. A., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5:387 (1987), Teeri et al., EMBO J. 8:343 (1989), Koncz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci U.S.A. 84:131 (1987), DeBlock et al., EMBO J. 3:1681 (1984).

In vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not require destruction of plant tissue are available. Molecular Probes publication 2908, Imagene Green, p.1-4 (1993) and Naleway et al., J. Cell Biol. 115:151a (1991). However, these in vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity have not proven useful for recovery of transformed cells because of low sensitivity, high fluorescent backgrounds and limitations associated with the use of luciferase genes as selectable markers.

More recently, a gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has been utilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Chalfie et al., Science 263:802 (1994). GFP and mutants of GFP may be used as screenable markers.

Promoters—Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by a nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, a promoter. Several types of promoters are now well known in the transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination with promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in plant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or sclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred”. Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue are referred to as “tissue-specific”. A “cell type” specific promoter primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may effect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under most environmental conditions.

A. Inducible Promoters

An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in lettuce. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in lettuce. With an inducible promoter the rate of transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter can be used in the instant invention. See Ward et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 22:361-366 (1993). Exemplary inducible promoters include, but are not limited to, that from the ACEI system which responds to copper (Meft et al., PNAS 90:4567-4571 (1993)); In2 gene from maize which responds to benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners (Hershey et al., Mol. Gen Genetics 227:229-237 (1991) and Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 243:32-38 (1994)) or Tet repressor from Tn10 (Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 227:229-237 (1991)). A particularly preferred inducible promoter is a promoter that responds to an inducing agent to which plants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter is the inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptional activity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone. Schena et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:0421 (1991).

B. Constitutive Promoters

A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in lettuce or the constitutive promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in lettuce.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are not limited to, the promoters from plant viruses such as the 35S promoter from CaMV (Odell et al., Nature 313:810-812 (1985) and the promoters from such genes as rice actin (McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2:163-171 (1990)); ubiquitin (Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 12:619-632 (1989) and Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18:675-689 (1992)); pEMU (Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588 (1991)); MAS (Velten et al., EMBO J. 3:2723-2730 (1984)) and maize H3 histone (Lepetit et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 231:276-285 (1992) and Atanassova et al., Plant Journal 2 (3): 291-300 (1992)).

The ALS promoter, Xba1/NcoI fragment 5′ to the Brassica napus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to said Xba1/NcoI fragment), represents a particularly useful constitutive promoter. See PCT application WO96/30530.

-   -   C. Tissue-Specific or Tissue-Preferred Promoters         -   A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for             expression in lettuce. Optionally, the tissue-specific             promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence             encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a             gene for expression in lettuce. Plants transformed with a             gene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specific             promoter produce the protein product of the transgene             exclusively, or preferentially, in a specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter, such as that from the phaseolin gene (Murai et al., Science 23:476-482 (1983) and Sengupta-Gopalan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82:3320-3324 (1985)); a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter such as that from cab or rubisco (Simpson et al., EMBO J. 4(11):2723-2729 (1985) and Timko et al., Nature 318:579-582 (1985)); an anther-specific promoter such as that from LAT52 (Twell et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 217:240-245 (1989)); a pollen-specific promoter such as that from Zm13 (Guerrero et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 244:161-168 (1993)) or a microspore-preferred promoter such as that from apg (Twell et al., Sex. Plant Reprod. 6:217-224 (1993)).

D. Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall or mitochondrion or for secretion into the apoplast, is accomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.

The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either an intracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art. See, for example Becker et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 20:49 (1992), Close, P. S., Master's Thesis, Iowa State University (1993), Knox, C., et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 9:3-17 (1987), Lerner et al., Plant Physiol. 91:124-129 (1989), Fontes et al., Plant Cell 3:483-496 (1991), Matsuoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88:834 (1991), Gould et al., J. Cell. Biol. 108:1657 (1989), Creissen et al., Plant J. 2:129 (1991), Kalderon, et al., Cell 39:499-509 (1984), and Steifel, et al., Plant Cell 2:785-793 (1990).

E. Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

With transgenic plants according to the present invention, a foreign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are well understood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants which are harvested in a conventional manner, and a foreign protein then can be extracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Protein extraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods which are discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem. 114:92-6 (1981).

According to a preferred embodiment, the transgenic plant provided for commercial production of foreign protein is lettuce. In another preferred embodiment, the biomass of interest is seed. For the relatively small number of transgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, a genetic map can be generated, primarily via conventional RFLP, PCR and SSR analysis, which identifies the approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNA molecule. For exemplary methodologies in this regard, see Glick and Thompson, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology CRC Press, Boca Raton 269:284 (1993). Map information concerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to determine if the latter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons would involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all of which are conventional techniques.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic genes can be expressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard include, but are not limited to, those categorized below:

-   -   1. Genes That Confer Resistance to Pests or Disease and That         Encode:         -   A. Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defenses are often             activated by specific interaction between the product of a             disease resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of             a corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A             plant line can be transformed with a cloned resistance             gene(s) to engineer plants that are resistant to specific             pathogen strains. See, for example Jones et al., Science             266:789 (1994) (cloning of the tomato Cf-9 gene for             resistance to Cladosporium fulvum); Martin et al., Science             262:1432 (1993) (tomato Pto gene for resistance to             Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato encodes a protein kinase);             Mindrinos et al., Cell 78:1089 (1994) (Arabidopsis RSP2 gene             for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae).

B. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or a synthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. See, for example, Geiser et al., Gene 48:109 (1986), who disclose the cloning and nucleotide sequence of a Bt α-endotoxin gene. Moreover, DNA molecules encoding α-endotoxin genes can be purchased from American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va. for example, under ATCC Accession Nos. 40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998.

-   -   -   C. A lectin. See, for example, the disclosure by Van Damme             et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24:25 (1994), who disclose the             nucleotide sequences of several Clivia miniata             mannose-binding lectin genes.         -   D. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin. See PCT             application US93/06487. The application teaches the use of             avidin and avidin homologues as larvicides against insect             pests.         -   E. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or             proteinase inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor. See, for             example, Abe et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:16793 (1987)             (nucleotide sequence of rice cysteine proteinase inhibitor),             Huub et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21:985 (1993) (nucleotide             sequence of cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I),             Sumitani et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 57: 1243 (1993)             (nucleotide sequence of Streptomyces nitrosporeus α-amylase             inhibitor).         -   F. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an             ecdysteroid or juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a             mimetic based thereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof.             See, for example, the disclosure by Hammock et al., Nature             344:458 (1990), of baculovirus expression of cloned juvenile             hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone.         -   G. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon             expression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest.             For example, see the disclosures of Regan, J. Biol. Chem.             269:9 (1994) (expression cloning yields DNA coding for             insect diuretic hormone receptor), and Pratt et al.,             Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 163:1243 (1989) (an allostatin             is identified in Diploptera puntata). See also U.S. Pat. No.             5,266,317 to Tomalski et al., who disclose genes encoding             insect-specific, paralytic neurotoxins.         -   H. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a             wasp, etc. For example, see Pang et al., Gene 116:165             (1992), for disclosure of heterologous expression in plants             of a gene coding for a scorpion insectotoxic peptide.         -   I. An enzyme responsible for a hyper-accumulation of a             monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, a hydroxamic acid,             a phenylpropanoid derivative or another non-protein molecule             with insecticidal activity.         -   J. An enzyme involved in the modification, including the             post-translational modification, of a biologically active             molecule; for example, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic             enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a             transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a             kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a             chitinase and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. See             PCT application WO 93/02197 in the name of Scott et al.,             which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a callase gene.             DNA molecules which contain chitinase-encoding sequences can             be obtained, for example, from the ATCC under Accession Nos.             39637 and 67152. See also Kramer et al., Insect Biochem.             Molec. Biol. 23:691 (1993), who teach the nucleotide             sequence of a cDNA encoding tobacco hookworm chitinase, and             Kawalleck et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21:673 (1993), who             provide the nucleotide sequence of the parsley ubi4-2             polyubiquitin gene.         -   K. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For             example, see the disclosure by Botella et al., Plant Molec.             Biol 24:757 (1994), of nucleotide sequences for mung lettuce             calmodulin cDNA clones, and Griess et al., Plant Physiol.             104:1467 (1994), who provide the nucleotide sequence of a             maize calmodulin cDNA clone.         -   L. A hydrophobic moment peptide. See PCT application             WO95/16776 (disclosure of peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin             which inhibit fungal plant pathogens) and PCT application             WO95/18855 (teaches synthetic antimicrobial peptides that             confer disease resistance).         -   M. A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel             blocker. For example, see the disclosure of Jaynes et al.,             Plant Sci 89:43 (1993), of heterologous expression of a             cecropin-α, lytic peptide analog to render transgenic             tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum.         -   N. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived             therefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat             proteins in transformed plant cells imparts resistance to             viral infection and/or disease development effected by the             virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, as well             as by related viruses. See Beachy et al., Ann. Rev.             Phytopathol. 28: 451 (1990). Coat protein-mediated             resistance has been conferred upon transformed plants             against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco             streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etch             virus, tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaic virus. Id.         -   O. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived             therefrom. Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical             metabolic function in the insect gut would inactivate an             affected enzyme, killing the insect. Cf. Taylor et al.,             Abstract #497, Seventh Int'l Symposium on Molecular             Plant-Microbe Interactions (Edinburgh, Scotland) (1994)             (enzymatic inactivation in transgenic tobacco via production             of single-chain antibody fragments).         -   P. A virus-specific antibody. See, for example, Tavladoraki             et al., Nature 366:469 (1993), who show that transgenic             plants expressing recombinant antibody genes are protected             from virus attack.         -   Q. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a             pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo α-1,             4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization and             plant nutrient release by solubilizing plant cell wall             homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase. See Lamb et al., Bio/Technology             10:1436 (1992). The cloning and characterization of a gene             which encodes a lettuce endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting             protein is described by Toubart et al., Plant J. 2:367             (1992).         -   R. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a             plant. For example, Logemann et al., Bio/Technology 10:305             (1992), have shown that transgenic plants expressing the             barley ribosome-inactivating gene have an increased             resistance to fungal disease.         -   S. A lettuce mosaic potyvirus (LMV) coat protein gene             introduced into Lactuca sativa in order to increase its             resistance to LMV infection. See Dinant et al., Molecular             Breeding. 1997, 3: 175-86.

    -   2. Genes That Confer Resistance to an Herbicide, For Example:         -   A. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem,             such as an imidazalinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes             in this category code for mutant ALS and AHAS enzymes as             described, for example, by Lee et al., EMBO J. 7:1241             (1988), and Miki et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 80:449 (1990),             respectively.         -   B. Glyphosate (resistance impaired by mutant             5-enolpyruvl-3-phosphoshikimate synthase (EPSP) and aroA             genes, respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as             glufosinate (phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and             Streptomyces hygroscopicus PAT bar genes), and pyridinoxy or             phenoxy propionic acids and cyclohexones (ACCase             inhibitor-encoding genes). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.             4,940,835 to Shah, et al., which discloses the nucleotide             sequence of a form of EPSP which can confer glyphosate             resistance. A DNA molecule encoding a mutant aroA gene can             be obtained under ATCC accession number 39256, and the             nucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is disclosed in U.S.             Pat. No. 4,769,061 to Comai. See also Umaballava-Mobapathie             in Transgenic Research. 1999, 8: 1, 33-44 that discloses             Lactuca sativaresistant to glufosinate. European patent             application No. 0 333 033 to Kumada et al., and U.S. Pat.             No. 4,975,374 to Goodman et al., disclose nucleotide             sequences of glutamine synthetase genes which confer             resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin. The             nucleotide sequence of a phosphinothricin-acetyl-transferase             gene is provided in European application No. 0 242 246 to             Leemans et al.; DeGreef et al., Bio/Technology 7:61 (1989),             describe the production of transgenic plants that express             chimeric bar genes coding for phosphinothricin acetyl             transferase activity. Exemplary of genes conferring             resistance to phenoxy propionic acids and cyclohexones, such             as sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2 and             Acc1-S3 genes described by Marshall et al., Theor. Appl.             Genet. 83:435 (1992).         -   C. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a             triazine (psbA and gs+ genes) and a benzonitrile (nitrilase             gene). Przibilla et al., Plant Cell 3:169 (1991), describe             the transformation of Chlamydomonas with plasmids encoding             mutant psbA genes. Nucleotide sequences for nitrilase genes             are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648 to Stalker, and DNA             molecules containing these genes are available under ATCC             Accession Nos. 53435, 67441, and 67442. Cloning and             expression of DNA coding for a glutathione S-transferase is             described by Hayes et al., Biochem. J. 285:173 (1992).

    -   3. Genes That Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, such         as:         -   A. Increased iron content of the lettuce, for example by             transforming a plant with a soybean ferritin gene as             described in Goto et al., Acta Horticulturae. 2000,             521,101-109. Parallel to the improved iron content, enhanced             growth of transgenic lettuces was also observed in early             development stages.         -   B. Decreased nitrate content of leaves, for example by             transforming a lettuce with a gene coding for a nitrate             reductase. See for example Curtis et al., Plant Cell Report.             1999, 18: 11, 889-896.         -   C. Increased sweetness of the lettuce by transferring a gene             coding for monellin that elicits a flavor 100,000 times             sweeter than sugar on a molar basis. See Penarrubia et al.,             Biotechnology. 1992,10: 5, 561-564.

Methods for lettuce transformation—Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols. See, for example, Miki et al., “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA into Plants” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, (1993) pages 67-88. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available. See, for example, Gruber et al., “Vectors for Plant Transformation” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton 1993 pages 89-119.

A. Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation

One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. See, for example, Horsch et al., Science 227:1229 (1985). Curtis et al., Journal of Experimental Botany. 1994, 45: 279, 1441-1449, Torres et al., Plant cell Tissue and Organic Culture. 1993, 34: 3, 279-285, Dinant et al., Molecular Breeding. 1997, 3: 1, 75-86. A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which genetically transform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic transformation of the plant. See, for example, Kado, C. I., Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 10:1 (1991). Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are provided by Gruber et al., supra, Miki et al., supra, and Moloney et al., Plant Cell Reports 8:238 (1989). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616 issued Jan. 7, 1997.

B. Direct Gene Transfer

Despite the fact the host range for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is broad, some major cereal or vegetable crop species and gymnosperms have generally been recalcitrant to this mode of gene transfer, even though some success has recently been achieved in rice and corn. Hiei et al., The Plant Journal 6:271-282 (1994) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616 issued Jan. 7, 1997. Several methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

A generally applicable method of plant transformation is microprojectile-mediated transformation wherein DNA is carried on the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 μm. The expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with a biolistic device that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/s which is sufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and membranes. Russell, D. R., et al. Pl. Cell. Rep. 12 (3 Jan.), 165-169 (1993); Aragao, F. J. L., et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 20 (2 Oct.); 357-359 (1992); Aragao, F.J.L., et al. Pl. Cell. Rep. 12 (9 July) 483-490 (1993); Aragao Theor. Appl. Genet. 93:142-150 (1996); Kim, J.; Minamikawa, T. Plant Science 117: 131-138 (1996); Sanford et al., Part. Sci. Technol. 5:27 (1987); Sanford, J. C., Trends Biotech. 6:299 (1988); Klein et al., Bio/Technology 6:559-563 (1988); Sanford, J. C., Physiol Plant 7:206 (1990); Klein et al., Biotechnology 10:268 (1992).

Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is sonication of target cells. Zhang et al., Bio/Technology 9:996 (1991). Alternatively, liposome and spheroplast fusion have been used to introduce expression vectors into plants. Deshayes et al., EMBO J., 4:2731 (1985), Christou et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:3962 (1987). Direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂ precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-omithine has also been reported. Hain et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 199:161 (1985) and Draper et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 23:451 (1982). Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues has also been described. Saker, M.; Kuhne, T. Biologia Plantarum 40(4): 507-514 (1997/98), Donn et al., In Abstracts of VIIth International Congress on Plant Cell and Tissue Culture IAPTC, A2-38, p 53 (1990); D'Halluin et al., Plant Cell 4:1495-1505 (1992) and Spencer et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 24:51-61 (1994). See also Chupean et al., Biotechnology. 1989, 7: 5, 503-508.

Following transformation of lettuce target tissues, expression of the above-described selectable marker genes allows for preferential selection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, using regeneration and selection methods now well known in the art.

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used for producing a transgenic line. The transgenic line could then be crossed with another (non-transformed or transformed) line in order to produce a new transgenic lettuce line. Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been engineered into a particular lettuce cultivar using the foregoing transformation techniques could be moved into another line using traditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be used to move an engineered trait from a public, non-elite inbred line into an elite inbred line, or from an inbred line containing a foreign gene in its genome into an inbred line or lines which do not contain that gene. As used herein, “crossing” can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on the context.

When the terms lettuce plant, cultivar or lettuce line are used in the context of the present invention, this also includes any single gene conversions of that line. The term single gene converted plant as used herein refers to those lettuce plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a cultivar are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred into the line via the backcrossing technique. Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the line. The term backcrossing as used herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybrid progeny back to one of the parental lettuce plants for that line. The parental lettuce plant which contributes the gene for the desired characteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. The parental lettuce plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol (Poehlman & Sleper, 1994; Fehr, 1987). In a typical backcross protocol, the original cultivar of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second line (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 times until a lettuce plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred gene from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the original line. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent cultivar is modified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological, constitution of the original line. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one of the major purposes is to add some commercially desirable and/or agronomically important trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine an appropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new line but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not be transgenic, examples of these traits include but are not limited to, herbicide resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability and yield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through the nucleus. Several of these single gene traits are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,777,196, 5,948,957 and 5,969,212, the disclosures of which are specifically hereby incorporated by reference.

TABLES

In the tables that follow, the traits and characteristics of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B are given compared to other check cultivars. In Table 2, the seed color, cotyledon shape and characteristics of the fourth leaf of 40-0203103-B are compared with those of commercial varieties ‘Eruption’ and ‘Red Hot Cos.’ The “Leaf Length/Width Index” is found by dividing the length by the width and multiplying by 10. TABLE 2 Character 40-0203103-B ‘Eruption’ ‘Red Hot Cos’ Seed Color Black White White Cotyledon Shape Broad Intermediate Intermediate 4^(th) Leaf Length/ 20 22 18 Width Index 4^(th) Leaf Apical Margin Moderately Moderately Moderately Dentate Dentate Dentate 4^(th) Leaf Basal Margin Moderately Crenate/ Crenate/ Dentate Gnawed Gnawed 4^(th) Leaf Anthocyanin Throughout Throughout Spotted Distribution 4^(th) Leaf Anthocyanin Intense Moderate Light Concentration 4^(th) Leaf Color RHS 200A RHS 200C RHS 200D

In Table 3 the mature leaf and head characteristics of 40-0203103-B are compared with those of ‘Eruption’ and ‘Red Hot Cos.’ TABLE 3 Character 40-0203103-B ‘Eruption’ ‘Red Hot Cos’ Anthocyanin Throughout Throughout Margins, Distribution Top Surface Anthocyanin Intense Intense Moderate Concentration Green Color Light Green, RHS Very Light Green, Medium Green, 143B RHS 143D RHS 143A Leaf Size Medium Small Large Leaf Glossiness Glossy Moderate Moderate Leaf Thickness Thin Intermediate Thick Spread of 32 cm 29 cm 34 cm Frame Leaves Head Size Medium Small Large Head Weight 135 g 199 g 422 g Head Firmness Loose Moderate Moderate Midrib Prominently Moderately Moderately Raised Raised Raised

In Table 4, the characteristics of the core and the bolter plant of 40-0203103-B are compared with those of ‘Eruption’ and ‘Red Hot Cos.’ “Core Diameter” refers to the diameter of the core at the base of the head while “Core Height” refers to the height from the base of the head to the apex of the head. The characteristic “Days to Seed Stalk” is the number of days from first watering to emergence of the seed stalk, while “Height of Seed Stalk” refers to height of the mature seed stalk. TABLE 4 Character 40-0203103-B ‘Eruption’ ‘Red Hot Cos’ Core Diameter  20 mm 25 mm  30 mm Core Height  45 mm 48 mm  49 mm Days to Seed Stalk  68 75  72 Height of Seed Stalk 110 cm 90 cm 105 cm Spread of Bolter Plant  32 cm 23 cm  28 cm Color RHS 200A RHS 183D RHS 139A

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

A deposit of the lettuce cultivar seed of this invention is maintained by Shamrock Seed Company, Inc., 3 Harris Place, Salinas, Calif., USA. Access to this deposit will be available during the pendency of this application to persons determined by the Commissioner of Patent and Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 CFR 1.14 and 35 USC 122. Upon allowance of any claims in this application, all restrictions on the availability to the public of the variety will be irrevocably removed by affording access to a deposit of at least 2,500 seeds of the same variety with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Va., USA.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications such as single gene modifications and mutations, somaclonal variants, variant individuals selected from large populations of the plants of the instant line and the like may be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A seed of lettuce cultivar designated 40-0203103-B, a representative sample of seed of the cultivar having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-______.
 2. A lettuce plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. A tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the plant of claim
 2. 4. Protoplasts produced from the tissue culture of claim
 3. 5. The tissue culture of claim 3, wherein the cells are produced from a plant part selected from the group consisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, cotyledons, hypocotyls, meristematic cells, roots, root tips, anthers flowers, stems and pods.
 6. A lettuce plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 3, wherein the plant has all the morphological and physiological characteristics of cultivar 40-0203103-B.
 7. A method for producing a hybrid lettuce seed, wherein the method comprises crossing the plant of claim 2 with a different lettuce plant and harvesting the resultant F1 hybrid lettuce seed.
 8. A hybrid lettuce seed produced by the method of claim
 7. 9. A hybrid lettuce plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing said hybrid seed of claim
 8. 10. A method of producing a lettuce seed wherein the method comprises growing said hybrid lettuce plant of claim 9 and harvesting the resultant seed.
 11. A method of producing for producing a male sterile lettuce plant wherein the method comprises transforming the lettuce plant of claim 2 with a nucleic acid molecule that confers male sterility.
 12. A male sterile soybean plant produced by the method of claim
 11. 13. A method for producing an herbicide resistant lettuce plant wherein the method comprises transforming the lettuce plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers herbicide resistance.
 14. An herbicide resistant lettuce plant produced by the method of claim
 13. 15. The lettuce plant of claim 14, wherein the transgene confers resistance to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, L-phosphinothricin, triazine and benzonitrile.
 16. A method of producing an insect resistant lettuce plant wherein the method comprises transforming the lettuce plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers insect resistance.
 17. An insect resistance lettuce plant produced by the method of claim
 16. 18. The lettuce plant of claim 17 wherein the transgene encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 19. A method of producing a disease resistant soybean plant wherein the method comprises transforming the lettuce plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers disease resistance.
 20. A disease resistant lettuce plant produced by the method of claim
 19. 21. A method of producing a lettuce plant with a value-added trait, wherein the method comprises transforming the lettuce plant of claim 2 with a transgene encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of a ferritin, a nitrate reductase and a monellin.
 22. A lettuce plant with a value-added trait produced by the method of claim
 21. 23. A lettuce plant, or part thereof, having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the cultivar 40-0203103-B, a representative sample of seed of the cultivar having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-______.
 24. A method of introducing a desired trait into lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B wherein the method comprises: a) crossing a 40-0203103-B plant, representative seed having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-______, with a plant of another lettuce cultivar that comprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny plants, wherein the desired trait is selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, and resistance to bacterial disease, fungal disease, or viral disease; b) selecting progeny plants that have the desired trait to produce selected progeny plants; c) crossing the selected progeny plants with the 40-0203103-B plants to produce backcross progeny plants; d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait and physiological and morphological characteristics of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B to produce selected backcross progeny plants; and e) repeating steps (c) and (d) to produce selected first or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise the desired trait and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.
 25. A plant produced by the method of claim 24, wherein the plant has the desired trait and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of lettuce cultivar 40-0203103-B as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.
 26. The plant of claim 25 wherein the desired trait is herbicide resistance and the resistance is conferred to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, L-phosphinothricin, triazine and benzonitrile.
 27. The plant of claim 25 wherein the desired trait is insect resistance and the insect resistance is conferred by a transgene encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 28. The plant of claim 25 wherein the desired trait is male sterility and the trait is conferred by a cytoplasmic nucleic acid molecule that confers male sterility. 